Sam Hall: Day 3 of FireFlies Antipodes

The FireFlies Antipodes charity ride from Christchurch to Queenstown is under way. From 17 to 23 February, the ride covers approximately 1,000km over six gruelling days. 12 riders from the marketing, creative and production industries are dedicating themselves to raising much-needed funds and awareness towards the Snowdome Foundation’s mission, ‘making hope real for Australians fighting blood cancers’. Here Sam Hall (above), executive producer at Blockhead VFX talks about Day #3…

“When you’re riding in a bunch you watch the back of the legs of the rider in front, pedaling away, for hours on end.

Today, Day 3 travelling down the windy West Coast from Hokitika to Franz Joseph Glacier, I had the good fortune to sit behind Malachi and the tattoos on the back of his calves gave me inspiration.

‘Feelings Come’, written on the left-hand leg and ‘Feelings Go’ on the right leg.

Day 1, 2 and now 3, I’ve ridden those waves of feelings both physically and mentally and I’ve had to let them go. When you’ve got 140kms to get through, 400kms up to this point, you can’t stop and give in to every little thing that hurts you, annoys you, fails you or makes you disheartened.

The feelings come and the feelings go. They really do and you let them go, you kind of have to. Sometimes the letting go of all the mental and physical emotion is a release and whilst I was riding, it made me think about what remains after that, once the feelings have come and gone, what’s left behind?

I think what will remain is a reminder of what’s important. It’s people you’re riding with that support you, ride back and help you, lift your spirits and get you there.

What remains is the memories of the ride, the hardships won, the friendships made, and the challenges faced.

What remains from suffering is the courage, either found or given.

And I guess the feelings I feel and the suffering I go through is only a fraction of what I think it’s like when you have Cancer. It gives me pause.

This tour is one of those incredible experiences that reinforce what’s important in life. It’s about the courage that remains. It’s about letting go. It’s about remembering who you’re there to support and get through the day. One day at a time.

Today had all-seasons-in-one-day as we flew down the coast and over Mount Hercules to Franz Joseph. By comparison I think we have many greater climbs ahead but I think it was the constancy of riding 400kms to this point that made it hard for me today. My body ached, mostly the lower part, and the day felt long. I was grateful for everyone’s help and it got me through.

I feel privileged to be here. ‘For those who suffer, we ride’.”

To pledge a Firefly please click here.

Riders:

Matt Oxley, Managing Director – TRACK

Simon Kane, Partner / Sound Designer – Song Zu

Bill Doig, Freelance Producer

Malachi Moxon – Northside Locals

Carmen Barry – Northside Locals

Sam Hall, Executive Producer – Blockhead

Graeme Pereira, Editor – ARC EDIT

Wilf Sweetland, Global CEO – Sweetshop

David Llewellyn,  Founder & Director – Bellweather Agency

Simon Bloomfield, Creative Director – Apparent

Leon Wilson Partner, / ECD – Robyn & Leon

James Bush, Creative Technology Lead – Fjord

This year’s ride is made possible by the generous financial sponsorship of Blockhead, Campaign Brief, Finch Company, Goodoil, Northside Locals, Panavision, Rumble, Skin Grows Back, Snowdome Foundation, SongZu, The Editors, TwentyOne Coffee and founding sponsors Sweetshop and RSA Films.